Towards URLLC with Open-Source 5G Software

Abstract

Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication is a key feature of 5G, yet achieving its strict one-way latency target remains challenging in real-world deployments. While previous work proposes latency-reduction techniques, most are theoretical or simulation-based and overlook practical bottlenecks in actual systems. In this paper, we analyze and optimize latency with open-source 5G RAN software. We characterize latency sources arising from 5G specifications and implementation-level factors, along with their complex interplays. Guided by this analysis, we introduce improvements reducing oneway latency by 39.28 % in the downlink and 55.38 % in the uplink. Our results show the importance of system-level experimentation and provide a blueprint for advancing toward URLLC targets in both 5G and future cellular networks.

Authors 7

1. Aoyu Gong

   École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

   Affiliation as printed

   EPFL

2. Arman Maghsoudnia

   École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

   Affiliation as printed

   EPFL

3. Raphael Cannatà

   École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

   Affiliation as printed

   EPFL

4. Eduard Vlad Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen

5. Néstor Lomba Lomba

   École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

   Affiliation as printed

   EPFL

6. Dan Mihai Dumitriu
   Affiliation as printed

   Pavonis LLC

7. Haitham Hassanieh

   École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

   Affiliation as printed

   EPFL